Richard Alsup wins the Monster Stack championship, earning his second career gold bracelet.
The 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) will crown another heavyweight champion.
Event #18, one of the most popular major events in this year's tournament:$1,500 Monster StackIn the tournament, American professional poker player Richard Alsup emerged victorious from a record field of 11,933 players, ultimately winning the championship, a $1,302,125 jackpot, and his second WSOP gold bracelet.
This victory not only broke Alsup's personal record for highest prize money, but also officially made him a WSOP double bracelet winner.
Monster Stack sets a new record
Monster Stack has consistently been one of the most popular low-to-mid-buy events in the WSOP.
After restructuring in 2026, the tournament allowed participants one re-entry opportunity in each starting category, ultimately attracting 11,933 entries and creating a total prize pool of over US$15.8 million, once again breaking the tournament's historical record.
After several days of intense competition, only eight players remained to advance to the final table.
Kevin Eyster entered the final table with a chip lead, while Richard Alsup was in sixth place with only 21 big blinds.
However, it was this short- and medium-length racer, who was not favored by the outside world, who ultimately made a comeback.
Fight their way from midfield to the championship.
At the start of the final table, most of the attention was focused on chip leaders such as Kevin Eyster, Salvatore DiCarlo, and Matthew Miller.
Alsup opted for a more conservative approach, patiently waiting for an opportunity.
As the game progressed, he successfully avoided several dangerous collisions and won several key duels, gradually accumulating points.
As an experienced expert in large-scale events, Alsup is well aware of the rhythm and survival rules of events with a huge number of participants, such as Monster Stack.
His consistent performance has gradually placed him among the contenders for the championship.
Winning my second WSOP gold bracelet
In fact, this is not the first time Alsup has topped the WSOP stage.
In 2022, he won the WSOP $800 Deepstack No-Limit Hold'em event, earning $272,065 and his first gold bracelet.
Four years later, he proved his ability once again.
Compared to his first championship win, this Monster Stack title is even more prestigious.
With nearly 12,000 participants and a prize of over $1.3 million, it became the most important victory of Alsup's career.
Minnesota's star player adds another glory
Richard Alsup, from Savage, Minnesota, has been active in the poker scene in the American Midwest for many years.
In addition to his WSOP results, he is also a key figure in the MSPT (Mid-States Poker Tour), accumulating a large number of consistent results over the years.
Before winning the Monster Stack title, his live tournament winnings exceeded $2.6 million.
With the $1.3 million jackpot now in hand, his career total winnings will rise significantly once again.
New stories continue to emerge at the 2026 WSOP.
Monster Stack has always been considered one of the most iconic tournaments in the WSOP.
Due to the large number of participants, the complex structure, and the fierce competition, winning this competition often indicates that the contestant possesses extremely strong comprehensive abilities.
Richard Alsup's victory over 11,933 competitors not only marks a new chapter in his career but also represents one of the most iconic championship stories of the 2026 WSOP to date.
As the series continues, more gold bracelets and legendary stories will continue to unfold in Las Vegas.
Competition Results
Event #18：$1,500 Monster Stack
| Ranking | player | bonus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richard Alsup | $1,302,125 |
| 2 | Pending official confirmation | – |
| 3 | Pending official confirmation | – |
With a prize of $1,302,125, Richard Alsup won his second WSOP gold bracelet.
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